You may have noticed the name of our editorial director Damien McFerran has been largely missing for the last couple of weeks, and that's because he's swanning about on Holiday. He still has time to browse random Japanese accessories online, of course, because that's just his style.
In any case, he sent us poor worker drones a...

It's that time again, dear readers, for the Nintendo Download Update details for North America. This week brings a notable retail title, in addition to four Switch eShop games and a couple of interesting options on the 3DS. Without further ado, let's get to it.
Switch Retail...

We weren't sure what to make of ARMS when it was first revealed, but Nintendo's bold new IP turned out to be a pleasant surprise and every bit as colourful as Splatoon. The game makes great use of Joy-Con motion controls to let the player use their stretchy weaponised arms to punch, thump and knock-out opponents.
However what if...

If you're too tight to shell out for Puyo Puyo Tetris, then you might be interested to know that you can get your Puyo Puyo fix within Sonic Mania, any time you want.
Yes it's possible to unlock your own little version of Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine in Sonic Mania. You'll just need to collect 20 silver medals in...

Occasionally we do live blogs of events and streams that turn out to be disasters on an epic scale. Examples that spring to mind include the first 'VGX' awards, and basically any live show by SEGA. Famously, SEGA did at least two 'announcements for an announcement' that culminated in the Sonic 25th Anniversary Party in July last year...

The European Nintendo Download Update is now live, and it's a relatively busy line-up. For reasons only it knows Nintendo of Europe is listing a big release from earlier in the week in this update, but beyond that we have some interesting options on Switch and a couple of enticing releases on 3DS...

This week's new set of goodies on My Nintendo in North America is designed to promote Flip Wars, which arrived on the Switch eShop in the region last week. Even if that title isn't to everyone's taste, one discount in particular may prove tempting to some.
Below are the 'Battle Inspired' offers on My...

We love a good Metroidvania game here at Nintendo Life. While we've got Metroid: Samus Returns to look forward to on 3DS and the lovely Axiom Verge: Multiverse Edition coming up on Switch, we could always use one more quality Metroidvania style game, right?
The lovely folks at Andromeda Project aim to make our dreams...

Nintendo has confirmed the theme for the next Splatfest in Splatoon 2, this time setting up a battle between blue and green once the tussle rolls around.
It'll be Flight vs Invisibility, the same in both North America in Europe; it'll go down on 1st-2nd September.
Nintendo also confirmed that Splatoon 2 is past one million...

There is a limited amount of summertime left in the UK and together with our friends at Nintendo UK we've got five Pokémon GO Plus accessories to give away, a perfect excuse to get back into Pokémon GO, right?
The ultimate companion for any Pokémon Trainer, Pokémon GO Plus let's you Catch Pokémon and...

Splatoon 2 has already emerged as an important year one hit for the Nintendo Switch, and the big N has been looking to utilise the IP to promote the hardware. Now Nintendo of America is joining in with a neat hardware bundle to build demand further.
The Nintendo Switch Splatoon 2 Edition bundle will be a Walmart exclusive in North...

The 3DS has arguably been the most impactful platform for the Fire Emblem series, playing host to a succession of three titles that all manage to take the series to new heights in their own ways. The last of these--Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia—was a remake of the second Fire...

We think Overcooked: Special Edition is a standout game in the Switch’s growing catalogue, but the one major problem to be found in this particular version is the relatively shoddy performance compared to other versions. Overcooked runs at a steady 30 FPS on other platforms, but stutters somewhere around 20 FPS on...

Following on from last month’s reveal of the delightful NES Classic Hoodie, Merchoid are back with the affectionately named SNES Classic Hoodie which of course is cleverly timed to coincide with the release of the SNES Classic Mini.
Based on the Europe

For those of our readers who have been enjoying the ACA Neo Geo releases on the Switch eShop, it's been revealed that later today Magician Lord will be available to download for the usual price of £6.29 / $7.99.
Developed by Alpha Denshi and released in 1990 as a launch title on the Neo Geo,...

Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy is a welcome return for the classic series formula, albeit we have a new protagonist and a focus on light-hearted storytelling and a push to keep the focus on puzzles. Already confirmed for the Fall season in North America,...

Currently there is no Virtual Console on the Switch, but there are still a few options for those seeking ye olde gaming thrills, such as Namco Museum and the various Neo Geo ACA releases. Now Zerodiv is adding to Switch owners’ retro choices by bringing a number of titles from the Psikyo back catalogue to the...

A week or two ago a Switch 'News' category popped up on the system for forma.8, confirming that the intriguing exploration title that graced the Wii U was coming to the new system. Developer MixedBag has now outlined the release details - it'll arrive on 24th August in North America and Europe priced at $9.99...

Located opposite the famous 'Golden Gai' izakaya (bar) square in Shinjuku's Kabukucho district (Tokyo) is a small cafe dedicated to all things Capcom. Whether your franchise of choice is Street Fighter, Biohazard (Resident Evil), Rockman (Mega Man), or something a little more niche, there's plenty of...

The Pokémon World Championships are almost here, the culmination of months of regional qualifying events. In Anaheim, California from 18th to 20th August the best Pokémon Sun and Moon, Trading Card Game and Pokkén Tournament players will gather to prove they're the very best.
As always there's...

In certain circles of chatty online gamers, Sonic the Hedgehog is often a hot topic. SEGA and Sonic Team has taken its mascot on some wild rides over the past 20+ years, stepping into 3D 'modern' Sonic, attempting a return to 2D with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and dividing opinion, and blurring the lines (with some success) in...

Last week, Nintendo put out a decently sized patch for ARMS that introduced a series of balance tweaks, and it also confirmed that the next update would be much more significant, adding in a new fighter, stage, and more arms. Not much else has been revealed since then, but Nintendo of Japan just recently put out a bit of a teaser for...

Sonic Mania is a treat for classic Sonic fans of all ages, but those that fiddled around with the original games & Knuckles will remember the debug modes that allowed you to mess around with any stage and completely ruin its subtle layout. Thankfully Sonic Mania delivers once again, as the classic...

It's fair to say that Sonic Mania has been really well received so far, attracting positive reviews all over the shop. Our own review will be with you shortly (spoilers: we like it too!). For many Sonic fans this is the game they've always wanted Sega to make -- a spiritual successor to the original Mega Drive trilogy...

If there's a lesson to be learned from Slime-San, it's that looks can be deceiving. Glancing at screenshots reveals a grungy, pixellated style, some weirdly gooey environments and what would appear to be a fairly straightforward 2D platformer, but scratch just beneath the slightly viscous surface and you'll find...

The Media Create chart results for Japan are here once again, bringing some new releases but also familiar sales trends that mean good news for Nintendo.
Starting with software, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age on 3DS stays at number one in the software chart, taking it past 1.5...

We've said in multiple editorials that the Nintendo Switch is more than the sum of its parts, but sometimes people need to use one to 'get it'. The core ingredients of a tablet with detachable controllers, that can be docked for a TV output, sounds neat but isn't necessarily considered game changing in...

Phantom Trigger is a self-described “neon slasher” featuring RPG and roguelike elements developed by two-man squad, Bread Team. Combining some rather tough gameplay with an intriguing storyline, it sees you make your way through various monster-ridden, dungeon-like worlds, whilst also attempting to make sense of what is...

Lucky Japanese Nintendo fans now have the option to pick their favourite Joy-Con colour combination when buying a Switch online from the official store. We had a play around with the online configurator and came up with the rad combo which you can see above. Hot or not?
Japanese customers can pick from any options which actually...

To say we're excited about the October release of Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch is a bit of an understatement. The more we see of the game the more we can't wait to play it for ourselves.
The Super Mario Odyssey Japanese Twitter account has been a great reminder of what we have to look forward to in the game. In the...

While Nintendo designed Super Mario Run to be easily played with only one hand, and laboured this point repeatedly, it was a reminder of a genuine need to make games more accessible to those who only have the use of one hand.
Thankfully for those gamers Thingyiverse user Vexelius has created a seriously useful

Sonic Mania is causing, well, mania, and we'll be typing out our final review today (following some more personal thoughts earlier in the week). The good news is that it runs beautifully on all platforms, with just one odd example on Switch (the first 3D 'chase the UFO' Special Stage) of frame drops; asides from that it's...

QUByte Interactive has confirmed that it is bringing its side-scrolling fighter 99Vidas to the Switch eShop later this year.
Created in conjunction with 99Vidas, Brazil's most popular video gaming podcast, the fighter has 4 player co-op, 11 characters, a 6-level story mode, 2 bonus levels,...

Earlier this year Original Journey was confirmed as yet another intriguing title to be on the way to the Switch eShop. Developed by Bonfire Entertainment and published by Another Indie, it utilises a 'pencil art' style with platforming, action and mechs.
Alongside the release of a PC (Steam) launch...

It seems like official video game guides are a bit of an antiquated item in the current day and age. Just about every game now has extensive YouTube series covering every facet of the gameplay and going over it all in nuance that guides might miss, and games are also prone to change with patches, which...

Here's a spoiler ahead of our Sonic Mania review - it's a huge amount of fun. Prior to release this scribe published some personal thoughts based on the PS4 version to summarise why it's the Sonic game many have been waiting for.
We are now dashing through on Switch, and our review will be with...

We recently checked out an LED mini projector with the Switch to see if it was a match made in gaming heaven. The results proved to be quite pleasing; with this projector coupled with the SFANS Adapter and Nintendo Switch, we were able to fit everything we needed into a medium-sized backpack...

Troll and I is out now on the Switch, a somewhat under-the-radar retail release that nevertheless looks rather appealing in footage. A single player adventure, it revolves around a co-operative relationship between a young man and the troll to get through various environments and challenges.
We're working on a...

Publisher Nicalis has been doing a great job in bringing games such as Cave Story+ and The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ to Nintendo Switch retail. Collectors really appreciate physical releases such as this, and Nicalis clearly has a way of convincing Nintendo to relax its policies, as...

Disgaea 5 Complete, released alongside the Switch in Japan and in May in the West, provides a huge amount of quirky, complex strategy gameplay for those that embrace its 'niche' approach to storytelling. We enjoyed it enough to give a recommendation in our review, with the proviso that it's a commitment to get into it fully...

The Wii U had its share of quality download-only games, and one that certainly deserves mention is Unepic, developed by Francisco Téllez de Meneses and published on the last-gen system by EnjoyUp Games. That arrived back in early 2014 and the developer has been busy - as it turns out that'll be to the benefit of the Switch eShop.
The...

If you're in the US and still trying to get a Switch, it's potentially been a struggle to find stock; various retailers have often offered sporadic and limited availability. According to CNET, though, GameStop stores in the country will have a notable restock today (15th August) and tomorrow.
CNET quotes a...

Since its beginning the three-vs-three Team-Battling shenanigans of SNK’s The King of Fighters series provided enjoyable fighting action. Each instalment added and tweaked things, culminating in the superb “Dream Match” ’98 edition. This was followed unsurprisingly by The King of Fighters ’99, which...

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is just two weeks away, and Ubisoft is releasing regular videos to showcase the game. Over the past week it's released a couple of 'Character Spotlight' videos, which showcase how different characters bring important strengths to your squad.
First up a week ago was the Mario...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is, in the opinion of this scribe, one of the finest games ever made. The adventure can be tackled in a variety of ways, but the ending brings it all together in one intense showdown, which naturally has Legend of Zelda lore fans interpreting...

With Sonic Mania just a day away at the time of publication, the lid is being lifted on review embargoes. Our chums at Push Square have published a review, but there's one simple reason we're posting this feature instead - we've been playing it on PS4. SEGA America offered us PS4 / Xbox...

Curve Digital was quite active in its support for the Wii U and 3DS eShop, particularly the former. It published the likes of Thomas Was Alone and OlliOlli on Nintendo hardware, and has now confirmed two games that it's bringing to the Switch.
Below are trailers and some official game descriptions for these.
The Flame in...

The Nintendo Switch has got off to a great start so far, with a growing install base, quality first party games and solid indie support on the eShop. Nevertheless the third-party retail line-up has been rather thin; while SEGA's Puyo Puyo Tetris and Capcom's Ultra Street Fighter...

Eagle-eyed download update readers last week will have spotted confirmation of the Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition demo being due to go live in North America today, on 14th August. The European update didn't list it, but it has now officially gone live in the region; it'll arrive in North America later today.
This isn't...

As we've seen over recent weeks with themed discounts and promotions, Nintendo's been celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Kirby. Nintendo of Europe, for its part, has now published a rather nice trailer celebrating the landmark.
It works through 25 years of Kirby games, ending with a few snippets of...

We're in the middle of the Summer lull in the games retail market - there are few new releases meaning that evergreen titles lead the way. That's certainly the case in the UK, but the most recent chart results do bring some cheer for Nintendo.
In a week with no big-hitting newcomers Crash...

Update:
Mewtwo will arrive in the game for all very soon through 'Exclusive Raid Battles' - details below.
In the coming weeks, you, too, will have the opportunity to battle and catch Mewtwo with the new Exclusive Raid Battle feature.
Exclusive Raid Battles are similar to existing Raid Battles, with a few notable...

Hey, you hip young things, we know you're on the interwebs to update your Facebook profile and tweet a video of you eating a burger, and you may even do whatever it is you do on Snapchat. Well, we're down with that, so here's the Pikachu Snapchat Lens for Snapchatting - get it now (in Snapchat, yeah?)

We're just a couple of days away from the launch of Sonic Mania on the Switch eShop, the latest intriguing release to head to the store. While the line-up of exclusive games on the Switch download store is modest (but arguably offering quality over quantity), we're seeing a diverse range of multi-platform titles. A number of...

RiME is taking its sweet time getting to the Nintendo Switch, with the release date now locked down to November.
However, there are valid reasons for this delay, and producer Cody Bradley has taken the time to explain what's what with a lengthy but informative blog post...

With the latest figures showing that the Switch has sold 4.7 million units worldwide, Nintendo has garnered praise from various corners of the industry. The latest high profile figure to comment on the console's early success is Sony's own Jim Ryan. Speaking to EDGE magazine, the global head of sales and...

A new shiny Pokémon has been made available in Pokémon GO for all Japan-based players. After last week's Pikachu Outbreak event, Niantic has begun to roll out Shiny Pikachu in the wild. This is not the first time a shiny Pokémon has been added to the game after shiny (gold) Magikarp began appearing - which in...

US-based telecommunications company Sprint is offering Pokémon GO players the chance to own a trainer level badge to show off their progress in the app. The company is handing out free level badges to anyone that visits one of the US stores and proves their level achievement to a member of staff. The levels...

Persistant Studios has announced that twin-stick shooter Boiling Bolt will be making its way to the Nintendo Switch. The game (originally released for PC) features 2D gameplay with 3D graphics and two player co-op across all game modes. Enemies strategically work together to take down your ship whilst you...

A common occurrence in the Wii era was Nintendo being taken to court by various companies claiming that the system violated existing patents. This has happened with multiple Nintendo systems, in truth, with the 3DS also being targeted quite a few times. Nintendo wins the majority of these cases and, even on the rare occasions it loses...

With the prospect of taking it anywhere, some have held off on purchasing Yooka-Laylee as they wait for it to be released on the Switch. Developer Playtonic Games has now given a little insight into how far along it is, saying that the "final issues" are being worked out. This news comes...

Anyone looking for Infinite Minigolf on the North American eShop for some weekend play may be a tad baffled at the moment, as the game has been temporarily pulled from the store; Zen Studios, however, is on the case.
Oddly it seems to have been caused by a ratings change; Zen Studios initially tweeted surprise,...

Much of the talk around Splatoon 2 is about the excellent core multiplayer mode and the occasionally available Salmon Run mode, but it seems like the single player is what gets often ignored. Though it’s obviously not the primary selling point of the title, it suitably builds upon the ideas established in the original Splatoon and...

Splatoon 2 has been serving up weekly updates and/or events so far, and that's set to continue this week. The coming weekend will bring us one of the quirkiest new items in the Switch sequel - the Splat Brella.
It's the first of its type in the game, and the Japanese account's tweet has a few nice shots of the...

It’s been a long time coming, and in just a few short days, Sonic Mania will finally see a release. The 16-bit platformer seems to be the game that fans have been requesting for years; this is a game that’s being made to honor the past while still introducing new stuff for the future. To keep anticipation high, Sonic Team has...

Game Freak Director and Pokémon series developer Junichi Masuda has been speaking about the design process in creating Pokémon, and how this has changed over the years since the games' inception.
Pokémon has always been praised for its wide variety of designs, taking things as...

The European eShop has a nice routine of dropping in new game pages on a regular basis to show more titles that are on the way, and this week a number were added. In most cases they're games we're already covered, but one is new and worth picking up - Robonauts by QubicGames.
QubicGames has some experience...

Early on in the Switch's life we had The Jackbox Party Pack 3, a collection of quirky multiplayer games in which players can jump in and use their phones to play. It was well executed on Switch, adding another party game to the system's line-up.
A little while ago Jackbox Games confirmed that the Switch would catch up with...